CityCenter

In their original form, these thinly sliced potato chips were piled with chicken livers and blue cheese. While wonderfully flavorful, it wasn’t exactly for the offal-averse. Now the dish has been retooled a bit, the livers replaced with a friendlier barbecue-beef ragout, and finished with tomatoes, scallions, blue-cheese crumbles and a creamy scallion aioli. We’ll miss the old version, but these will do just as nicely.

The female-focused concept in Crystals opens its doors New Year’s Eve in the space previously occupied by Beso Restaurant and Eve Nightclub. SHe is the product of a partnership between Landry’s (owners of Morton’s) and two of the original concept’s owners, Jonas Lowrance and actress Eva Longoria, and is managed by Epic Entertainment Group. As its sexually vague name hints, SHe promises a little something for everyone: theatrical elements, a fashion-show runway and chic dining in an art-deco décor do-over courtesy of Charles Doell.

Best Afterhours: The Artisan
Whether it’s because Artisan Afterhours is hassle-free or tourist-free (or both), the gothic hot spot still dominates the late-night hours as the go-to place to keep the party going. DJs are able to dig deeper into underground sounds where the music and vibe takes precedence over selling bottles. You’re pretty much guaranteed to run into industry buddies chilling on the patio with a hookah as the sun rises.

This new restaurant makes phenomenal use of a space that formerly housed Shaboo in BarMasa. Creative Design Architecture of Las Vegas essentially converted the room to a teppan bar by means of four blackjack-style tables, two communal teppan grills and a produce table that serves as a centerpiece. There are soaring round aluminum table hoods, dark granite countertops and blond teak in abundance, while neutral carpet was installed so as not to compete with the room’s many fresh-food displays.

Few things set the scene for an extraordinary dining experience quite like the amuse-bouche, usually a single perfect bite, compliments of the chef. Adopting the custom recently are Sirio and Sage in Aria, which offer guests dining at the bar a complimentary amuse-bouche aperitif. At Sage, the experience begins with the bar’s take on the pink lemonade, which includes Beefeater gin, Lillet Rosé, fresh lemon and simple syrup served via a nifty absinthe balancier dripper.

“My most prized possession is my pool table. It was the first thing I purchased when I bought my home. I always wanted my own pool table and was excited when I got a house with a billiard room. I designed it myself, picking out what the legs would look like, what type of wood it is crafted of and the felt used. I usually use it twice a week. After a long day of work, I pour a glass of red wine and play. It calms me down after dinner, and it’s fun.”

French design house Lanvin looked no further than its own mastermind, Alber Elbaz, to craft a pair of exclusive designs to swath iPad and iPhone cases for Fashion’s Night Out. The bold graphics and colorful designs feature tuxedoed men and over-the-top Lanvin-clad ladies.

If it was ever a question whether Las Vegas caters to women, let the speculation be officially put to rest with the announcement of SHe, the newest dining and nightlife destination at Crystals in CityCenter and one dedicated to, named for and all about the ladies.

A retail powerhouse whose domain is the high-end enclave Crystals, Matraki has made fashion his business for more than 20 years. Walking past stores such as Bottega Veneta, Gucci and Brunello Cucinelli daily means he has the very best of style right at his fingertips. Dressing the part of a high-end exec is just another day in the life.
Farid’s Fashion File
Rules to live by from a fashion veteran.
Accessory you can’t live without … a nice watch such as Harry Winston or De Grisogono.

Versatility is the ticket at MOzen Bistro, an elegant, intimate, genteel dining room that caters to many of our Asian visitors. The Western breakfasts such as steel-cut oatmeal and whole-wheat pancakes with Vermont maple syrup are superb, but there is also the option to have a full Japanese bento-box breakfast of teriyaki salmon, miso soup with all the fixings, or Chinese congee with such garnishes as braised peanut, spring onion and fresh ginger. And they throw in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today for free.

Not all of the wonders that lie inside Crystals at CityCenter are for the über-rich. Many of the retailers offer affordably priced items for those who want a taste of the good life without the price tag, or for those looking for a thoughtful gift that aims to impress. French clothier Lanvin has a line of stylish notebooks and pencils that start at $35. And Paul Smith is chock-full of fun and frivolous items, such as Vegas photo cuff links and a selection of home goods that come with a dose of aristocratic kitsch, such as Thomas Goode china.

Caught a set by the foxy Sina Foley at Mastro’s Ocean Club yet? With her incredible voice, Foley performs every request you can imagine, from jazz standards to Adele to hit power ballads by ’80s hair-metal bands. She and her partner Dave Bruley (keyboards) know how to read and please audiences while keeping us guessing with unexpected, refreshing choices. That Foley plays myriad percussion instruments while belting out our favorite songs, well, that’s just a really cool bonus.